Finnish Hound vs American Molossus - Breed Comparison

American Molossus is originated from United States but Finnish Hound is originated from Finland. Both American Molossus and Finnish Hound are having almost same height. American Molossus may weigh 23 kg / 51 pounds more than Finnish Hound. Both American Molossus and Finnish Hound has almost same life span. Both American Molossus and Finnish Hound has same litter size. American Molossus requires Moderate Maintenance. But Finnish Hound requires Low Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Molosser dogs
Molosser dogs
undefined
United States
Finland
Height Male:
56 - 66 cm
22 - 26 inches
55 - 62 cm
21 - 25 inches
Height Female:
51 - 60 cm
20 - 24 inches
52 - 62 cm
20 - 25 inches
Weight Male:
38 - 48 kg
83 - 106 pounds
20 - 25 kg
44 - 56 pounds
Weight Female:
32 - 43 kg
70 - 95 pounds
20 - 25 kg
44 - 56 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 14 Years
9 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
6 - 8
4 - 8
Size:
Giant
Medium
Other Names:
American Molosser • American Brabanter • American Bullenbeisser
Finsk Stovare
Colors Available:
Colors are black, black brindle with some white
Black, tan and white tri-color
Coat:
coat type coarse, dense, smooth and long
Short and smooth
Shedding:
Minimal
Moderate
Temperament:
Alert, Courageous, Independent, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Protective, Quiet, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
No
Yes

History

Based on the massive dog of Mesopotamia in 5000 BC, the American Molossus is the same dog recreated in the United States by and for the lovers of these giant dogs. The ancient Molossus was fierce to look at, massive in size, courageous and loyal. He was undaunted by any animal and stood up to any man attempting to hurt his master. When Rome fell the descendants of today’s Molossus were scattered and attempts to revive the breed have created carious large dogs. The American Molossus is the first true recreation that hits the mark.

The original Molossus was one of the most primitive of dogs, one of the earliest dogs that men domesticated. Their initials duties were the guarding of herds and homes against all enemies. They were incredibly loyal to their one master and stayed with him and protected him. These dogs also ate carrion and served the villages by eliminating animal carcasses. They could handle any other hunting animals such as wolves and large cats. This dog, although extinct was the ancestor of all the Mastiff-type dogs of today. The Molossus is said to be the ancestor of the St. Bernard, English Mastiff, Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, Bernese Mountain Dog, Newfoundland, Great Dane, Great Pyrenees, Rottweiler, Rottweiler and the Neapolitan Mastiff. Now these breeds have become the ancestry of the American Molossus.

According to Marcus Curtis, the founder of the new Molossus, the nearest relative of the American Molossus is the Neapolitan Mastiff. The Hines Bulldog, German Rottweiler, American Bandogge, and South African Boerboel together with the Neapolitan Mastiff were used to form the American Molossus. The goal of the founder was to make a great family pet and protector. It was specifically bred to be courageous, loyal and protective.

finnish houndAs one of Finland’s most popular dogs, the Finnish Hound isn’t particularly well known outside of Finnish borders. Known also as the Finsk Stovare, the Finnish Hound, known for its hunting skills, came about because of a breeding effort which started way back in the 1800s, mixing dogs such as different French, Swedish, and German hounds.

These hounds were used with the idea being to develop a dog that could do well in Finland’s terrain. The Finnish Hound is a great hunting dog but isn’t looked upon as an particularly awesome pet, although some pet owners would beg to differ.

Description

This is a giant, massive dog in every way and this recently developed standard makes that very clear. The Molossus should be heavy bones, muscular with a lot of loose skin and wrinkles of all kinds, everywhere. He is an intimidating presence, with a massive square head, broad shoulders, height and mass. No, the American Molossus is not athletic, but he certainly is intimidating.

His head is massive in comparison to his body and it must be square. He has extensive wrinkles and pendulous lips and dewlap. The face is all folds of skin and wrinkles. Deep set eyes, drooping upper lids and lower lids as well as an intimidating expression. His brow is well developed with a marked frontal furrow. The nose is large, and the muzzle is about a third of the length of its head. It is short and broad. Everything about the head must be square. It’s neck and body are powerful and muscular. The chest is deep, wide and barrel like. The back is also powerful and muscular. The front legs are heavy and muscular while the hind legs are broad, strong, powerful and wide-stance. Do not remove the front dew claws. His tail is thick and wide then gradually tapers at the tip.

finnish hound puppy - descriptionThis is a medium sized dog who stands between 52 – 62cm in height and weighs in at 20 to 25kg. The Finnish Hound can have between 4 – 8 puppies.As a scent-hound, the Finnish Hound has a short, smooth double coat which is usually in a tri-color pattern of black, tan, and white.

The attractive dog has an athletic, lean, muscular body full of energy and stamina. The eyes are brown and the dog has a peaceful expression. The medium length ears are floppy and the tail is long and carried low.

Temperament:

The Finnish Hound is friendly, calm and never aggressive. He is an intelligent dog nd will respond to the training and socialization he will require to turn him into an obedient, amicable pet, especially since he tends to be stubbon, independent and strong-willed. He isn’t recommended for small places in the city but will do better in the country with a fairy large piece of ground. The Finnish Hound is not recommended for apartment life. It is moderately active indoors and does best with at least an average-sized yard.

Characteristics

The American Molossus is an intimidating massive giant bred for protection and guard duty. He is incredibly loyal to his family and courageous in his protection of them. They are guard dogs, not attack dogs. Their simple appearance is usually enough to frighten off anyone intending harm on their families. He is in reality a loving giant. He is intelligent and stable with a strong desire to please his owner. He is a calm yet vigilant presence in the home.

Because the Molossus is so large, it is recommended that the puppy be socialized and trained professionally. It takes a strong owner to handle this breed. They need to know the rules and have the rules consistently applied. The owner must be the pack leader.

finnish hound dog - characteristicsThe Finnish Hound has always been a working dog and so he will require being well exercised.

He makes a good pet with homes where there are other dogs as well as children. As a hunting or working dog, these days the Finnish Hound is also regarded as a companion animal, fitting into family life well, and turning out to be a loving, loyal pet.

Health Problems

Like all Mastiffs the American Molossus faces a variety of potential illnesses, some brought on by its size, some not.

Spondylosis

This could easily be a function of its massive size. It is a degenerative disease and can cause the dog to become lame. In many cases the vertebrae can fuse, or severe pain can result. This is mostly seen in older members of the breed.

Cystinuria

Male Molossus can contract this inherited metabolic disease primarily. It can be life threatening and very serious as it affects the kidney and the bladder.

Wobblers Syndrome

This is essentially Cervical Vertebral Instability (CVI) and is caused by the pressure of the nerves in the neck and cervical spinal cord. This compression can cause deformity, pain and abnormal stance/gait. IT has been attributed to the nutrition needs and rapid growth of the Mastiff breeds.

Like all giant Mastiff breeds the Molossus can have skin issues from the wrinkles, dysplasia in the joints which we will address below.

finnish hound puppies - health problemsThe Finnish Hound is looked upon as a generally healthy breed who can get to 12 years of age if looked after well. Good nutrition plays a huge role towards excellent health.

Check out common health ailments that can affect most dogs such as dental disease, obesity, hip dysplasia and a serious condition for which these dogs are particularly known – cerebellar ataxia. Lesions in the brain affect the dog’s coordination and sight. Get him to the vet as soon as you detect anything unusual with your pet.

Caring The Pet

Feeding

Remembering that this is a very, very large dog you need to be careful about nutrition and how fast your puppy will grow. American Molossus puppies need four meals a day until 12 weeks old. Then until they are 6 months old feed then 3 times a day. Finally, from 6-month-old puppy to adult – feed them twice in 24 hours.

At one year either feed them once or two small meals.

Many people feed their Molossus eggs, vegetables, fruit, and cottage cheese as ten 5 of the total for the day but avoid other table foods. The Molossus can become very picky about what he eats if you feed him too many table scraps.

Health issues

In addition to the health problems listed above, the American Molossus is also susceptible to: Ditichiasis – Eyelashes that are in the margin of the eyelids and can cause eye irritation. May require surgery to correct.

Cataract

Could cause blindness if not removed. Ectropian/Entropion: Eversion and inversion of eyelids which cause ocular irritation.

PRA or Progressive Retinal Atrophy

This is a degenerative disease which causes the dog to go blind. It is a disease the affects the retinal visual cells, first causing night blindness then day blindness. A DNA test is available for detecting PRA in all Mastiff breeds.

Dysplasia of the Elbow or/and the Hip

Common in large breeds and especially in giant breeds like the Molossus. Multiple forms and causes but all can cause pain and lameness.

Skin issues

Do to wrinkles and loose skin – check often for moisture and infections.

Panosteitis or Wandering Lameness

The is a problem based on a variety of possible causes. It happens when the puppy is between 6-16 months of age. Lameness occurs over time in one limb or in all. It can be intermittent and might be caused by diet, genetics, stress, autoimmune or metabolic issues or infection.

HOD or Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy

This issue is developmental as the dog’s toes turn either inward or outward, then as the condition advances the dog suffers fever, pain in all joints, lethargy and the inability to stand. This happens when the dog consumes too many calories for his activity level in the development times.

Exercise and games

The American Molossus is not a couch potato. He needs to be walked at least twice a day and loves to play fetch. He will be greatly benefited by obedience training. Do not overdo it with exercise but make sure they don’t just lay around.

Diet:

finnish hound dogs - caringAs a medium-sized dog breed, you want to make sure to feed your dog a high-quality commercial dog food – one that has been formulated with the right amount of vitamins and minerals for the type of dog he is.

He is a high-energy hunting breed, so you wan to find a food that is appropriate to his needs. Home cooked brown rice, vegetables and chicken can be added into his kibble as a change and a treat from time to time as well as some raw meat occasionally. Make sure he always has access to fresh, cool water.

Exercise:

Physically active and mentally balanced and intelligent, the Finnish Hound will require both physical and mental stimulation to prevent him from becoming bored and frustrated.

Grooming:

As an average shedder, your pet's smooth, short-haired coat is easy to keep in tip top condition. All that is really required is to brush the coat down twice a week to keep it in peak condition.

Don’t neglect to check the inside of the dogs ears, as too much dirt and wax can cause nasty ear infections. Also, the teeth need to be brushed at least 2 or 3 times a week with special canine toothpaste and toothbrush. This will ward off tooth decay and lots of other problems within the body brought about by bad teeth.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Finnish Hound vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. Finnish Hound vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. Finnish Hound vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. Finnish Hound vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. Finnish Hound vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Finnish Hound vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. Finnish Hound vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. Finnish Hound vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Finnish Hound vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Finnish Hound vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Finnish Hound vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. Finnish Hound vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  13. Finnish Hound vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. Finnish Hound vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  15. Finnish Hound vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  16. Finnish Hound vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  17. Finnish Hound vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. Finnish Hound vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. Finnish Hound vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  20. Finnish Hound vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. Finnish Hound vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  22. Finnish Hound vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. Finnish Hound vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  24. Finnish Hound vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. Finnish Hound vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. American Molossus vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. American Molossus vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. American Molossus vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. American Molossus vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. American Molossus vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. American Molossus vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. American Molossus vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. American Molossus vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. American Molossus vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. American Molossus vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. American Molossus vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. American Molossus vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. American Molossus vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. American Molossus vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. American Molossus vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. American Molossus vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. American Molossus vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. American Molossus vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. American Molossus vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. American Molossus vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. American Molossus vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. American Molossus vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. American Molossus vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. American Molossus vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. American Molossus vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison